(VOVWorld) The first days of the new lunar year are sacred to the Vietnamese people. This is time for everyone to make wishes. The calligraphy market by Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam in Hanoi, known as "Ong Do" street, where scholars write calligraphic scripts has become a cultural feature of the Vietnamese people during Tet. People come here to express their wishes and the scholars, with their Chinese brush and ink will help express them in scripts. It is called market but there is no buying-selling activity because the Confusius never sells their calligraphy but it is given to people who show respect and trust. People give scholars money just as a token of thanks and as a small payment for paper and ink.

For years, Vietnamese people are keen on getting Chinese scripts and parallel sentences written by scholars to hang at home during Tet. This practice originated from a time-honored tradition of hanging the parallel sentences in front of the ancestors’ altar during Tet. The Van Mieu street by the side of the Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam or Temple of Literature has now become home of scholars during the New Year. Ong Do is the way the Vietnamese people called the Confucian Scholars in the old days.

People come to the scholars and tell about their wishes for the New Year, which will then be written down in Chinese script. People believe that those calligraphic scripts will help turn their wishes into reality.

People ask for the words Phúc (Luck and Happiness), Lộc (Prosperity) and Thọ (Longevity) or Poems and proverbs signifying good health, good luck and success for the new year. The words Đạt (Success), Phú (Wealth), Tâm (Heart), Nghĩa (Loyalty) and Tín (Prestige) are often more sought after by the young while older people prefer Phúc and Thọ. This mother takes both of her children to Van Mieu, wishing for good perfromance of her daughter this school year.

Calligrapher Phan Vuong has been known as part of "Ong Do" street every year. This is the calligraphy he wrote for children - the word Smart or Intelligence to make every parent happy.

For this foreign woman, it is the first time she comes here. She finds the tradition really something that she would like to have in her faraway country. She feels no cultural difference but becomes very interested in this custom. She shows no resistance to ask for a Chinese script as the Vietnamese do.

Some other people also start a trend of having Vietnamese words written in calligraphic style. This has become popular for several years as a new aspect of culture.

Life is going quickly on the street with people hurrying on their cars and motorbikes, but the tempo here on "Ong Do" street by the Temple of Literature seems to slow down. The brushes are lying by the ink, waiting for people to come and express their wishes.
 

The scholars seem not to recognize that it's getting dark on the street. Their minds and hearts are lying behind the calligraphic scripts, sharing the wish of their customers that the year to come will bring them luck and happiness.

Leaving "Ong Do" street, people go home with the scripts, which are the wishes for the new year and a strong belief that the calligraphy will turn their dream into reality. Let's keep the fingers crossed that the days ahead this year will be as their wish./

Dao Thuy